San Diego cycling routes?

If you're restricted to that area as a starting point, you have the 56 bike path right by you.  It runs most of the way along the Ted Williams parkway out towards the ocean.  The distance from one end of the path to the other is 9 miles, so it's an 18 miler round trip.  If you want to go further than that, I'm sure there's a way to sneak through to the coast road once you hit highway 5 (on the west end of the 56).  I see people do it, I just haven't tried it myself so I don't know how.  You'd have to go under the 5, which I think you can do at Carmel Valley Road.

On your map, keep scrolling west along the Ted Williams Parkway.  This is also called the 56.  You'll see that it ends at the 5 and turns into Carmel Valley Road, which takes you to the coast.  North Torrey Pines Road is known for being a gruesome hill heading south.  Heading north, Camino Del Mar becomes highway 101, which is a great coastal route with a bike lane all the way.  It's a very popular weekend ride spot.

If you are able to venture further from that starting point, here's a couple of other links.  Mission Bay is a favorite spot of mine.  I run there alot. 

Here is a list of bike routes and directions -

http://www.efgh.com/bike/routes.htm

Here's a map of Mission Bay and a link to running routes that can also be cycling routes -

http://members.cox.net/sd_run_maps/

http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=32.775729,-117.215195&spn=0.062662,0.109915&hl=en

Enjoy San Diego!

Nicola

Awesome, Nicola!! Thanks!! I was hoping to be abel to ride along the coast!

thanks again,

tom 

Tom,

I live about 1 mile from the map location you indicated.

As already mentioned, the 56 bike path will take you right down to the coast (you have to pop out onto some surface streets for the last mile to the coast).

There are also alot of great stretches along the coast to ride.  If I am doing a longer ride, I will usually drive down to the coast, ride, and then drive back inland (which avoids alot of long inclines at the tail end of the ride).

Your starting location might depend on how far you want to ride.

Sometimes I park in Del Mar and ride to Oceanside (around 40 miles total).
Sometimes I park in Carlsbad, ride north through Oceanside, onto Camp Pendleton (part of the Ironman CA 70.3 course), and as far north as Dana Point (can be as much as 70-80 miles).

Both of those rides can be shortened to whatever length/time and you still get a great ride.

PM me if you want more info.  When will you be out here?  If it is over the holiday, I may be doing some riding myself.

Dan